NIGHT

Upside-down flowers,

are we not? With stems

rooted upward into the deep?

Your soul, a kindly conduit,

umbilicates your body

into the placental night

that is fathomless and

fully empty of

where and when.

Take away the night? Absurd.

One night minus one night

equals one night.

Afraid of night?

Dread the shadows?

Learn from them.

Shadows tell stories,

emit fragrant meanings,

take you deeper than your feet.

Especially observe inner shadows,

even if they speak no words—

hear them out, and hear them in.

Look beneath shadows—

drop through into wider shadows

and feel safe in full bewilderment.

Afraid of unknowing?

Make your peace with it,

and your days may smile.

When you know definitely,

the vast night will remind you

that you know nothing.

When you wish for powers,

the night may wisely

hold them back.

But to be still with night

may bring you as much truth

as your heart can hold.

Night wants to abide

underneath your day

while you work—

wants to

enwomb you

between days.

Let night have its way,

its gentle way—

soften into its fullness.

Night is the container

of nothing less

than everything.